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Developer's website points to Publix coming to Rainbow City

New signs have appeared on Rainbow Drive and Alabama Highway 77 in Rainbow City with “Guess what's coming soon?” written on them, along with the phone number of Southpace Properties Inc., a Birmingham commercial real estate firm.

Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 4:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

A Florida developer's website says Publix is coming to Rainbow City as part of the Shoppes at Rainbow Landing development, but Mayor Terry John Calhoun said he still hasn't been told anything.

“I hope they're coming,” Calhoun said. “It'd be a big boost for us and it would be great for the city and for Highway 77 development.”

Paradise Ventures, a Florida-based retail real estate firm, has put preliminary plans on its website for the development that will be located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 77 and U.S. Highway 411 behind Mapco. The largest building has bright red letters that read “Publix” over the top.

New signs have appeared on Rainbow Drive and Alabama Highway 77 in Rainbow City with “Guess what's coming soon?” written on them, along with the phone number of Southpace Properties Inc., a Birmingham commercial real estate firm.

There has been speculation since a June 10 City Council meeting that Publix would open a store in Rainbow City.

According to minutes of the that meeting, Calhoun told the council that “Publix grocery store representatives” had met with the city's planning board and plans for the development had been approved by the board.

Calhoun said he hasn't spoken with Paradise Ventures in several weeks. He said he didn't know if it had even bought the land yet, although it has purchased options on it. He said while he doesn't know if Publix is coming, he has heard that Paradise Ventures has worked on other projects with the grocer in the past.

Calhoun said people at Paradise Ventures promised him that as soon as they had something official, he would be the first to know. When they finally make that announcement, he said he plans to make sure the public is aware of what is coming into Rainbow City.

“They haven't notified me about any of it,” Calhoun said. “I'll be glad when they make an announcement.”

Efforts to reach Southpace Properties or Paradise Ventures for comment were unsuccessful.

<p>A Florida developer's website says Publix is coming to Rainbow City as part of the Shoppes at Rainbow Landing development, but Mayor Terry John Calhoun said he still hasn't been told anything.</p><p>“I hope they're coming,” Calhoun said. “It'd be a big boost for us and it would be great for the city and for Highway 77 development.”</p><p>Paradise Ventures, a Florida-based retail real estate firm, has put preliminary plans on its website for the development that will be located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 77 and U.S. Highway 411 behind Mapco. The largest building has bright red letters that read “Publix” over the top.</p><p>New signs have appeared on Rainbow Drive and Alabama Highway 77 in Rainbow City with “Guess what's coming soon?” written on them, along with the phone number of Southpace Properties Inc., a Birmingham commercial real estate firm.</p><p>There has been speculation since a June 10 City Council meeting that Publix would open a store in Rainbow City.</p><p>According to minutes of the that meeting, Calhoun told the council that “Publix grocery store representatives” had met with the city's planning board and plans for the development had been approved by the board.</p><p>Calhoun said he hasn't spoken with Paradise Ventures in several weeks. He said he didn't know if it had even bought the land yet, although it has purchased options on it. He said while he doesn't know if Publix is coming, he has heard that Paradise Ventures has worked on other projects with the grocer in the past.</p><p>Calhoun said people at Paradise Ventures promised him that as soon as they had something official, he would be the first to know. When they finally make that announcement, he said he plans to make sure the public is aware of what is coming into Rainbow City.</p><p>“They haven't notified me about any of it,” Calhoun said. “I'll be glad when they make an announcement.”</p><p>Efforts to reach Southpace Properties or Paradise Ventures for comment were unsuccessful.</p>